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As the fourth-largest in the country, Pennsylvania's coal industry employs 52,000 people.

New regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency could force utilities across America to abandon coal as a fuel for power generation, which could very soon put each one of these men and women out of work.

I am a staunch proponent of clean air, but the new EPA regulations will cost power plants and consumers millions, but won't measurably improve air quality.

On the other hand, several independent research groups have concluded that the new regulations would put thousands of jobs in jeopardy and increase Pennsylvania's energy costs by as much as 8 percent.

The choice is clear to me: We simply cannot afford more layoffs and price increases.

Lawmakers in Washington will move to rein in the EPA with legislation sponsored by Oklahoma Sen. Jim Inhofe. I believe it's time we stand up for the hard-working men and women who work in Pennsylvania's coal mines by supporting this effort to protect Pennsylvania's coal industry.

Reductions in the coal-industry workforce would be a severe setback for this region's slowly recovering economy. We have a chance to put a stop to this potential disaster and, for the sake of Pennsylvania families. I hope we will take advantage of that opportunity.

State Sen. Tim Solobay

D-Washington County

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